CHAPTER 2

A week had passed since Harry had first apparated to Spinners End and things had been very quiet with his life for the first time in years. No one had bothered to send him letters to see where he is or how he was. The newspapers hardly mentioned him at all unless it was to do with the war. They didn't mention that no one had seen or heard from Harry since the end of the war. What hurt the most was the Daily Prophet was conducting daily interviews with the survivors of the war, yet they had not reached out to touch base with him yet.

Harry was currently sitting in the living room reading that morning's newspaper while Sirius slept in and Severus was already cooped up in his potion's lab doing who knows what. He sighed as he finished reading Neville's account of the war and what life had been like since the victory. From the looks of it, Dumbledore's Army was playing an active part in helping to rebuild and clean up Hogwarts, as well as alumni and Ministry workers. A lot of progress had been made in the two weeks.

Looking around the room, Harry sighed as he found nothing to keep his bored mind entertained. He stood up and walked down the hallway, approaching the top of the staircase that leads down to the personal potions lab. Harry sighed once more before tentatively and quietly walking down, dragging his hand along the cold stone walls. Harry stood on the last step and stared at the closed door in front of him. He wondered what the man was doing on the other side. Was it even safe for him to go in? Was his presence welcome?

"You may enter if you wish," a deep voice drawled from inside the potions lab.

Harry couldn't help but smile as he took a few steps forwards to the door, opening it without any more hesitation in his step. He quickly examined the entire room, looking for any danger, before he froze when he realised what he was doing. Harry had picked up an annoying habit thanks to being on the run while Horcrux hunting. He had caught himself doing this a few times while being Spinner's End. He walked over to Severus who was hunched over his work bench.

"More research?" Harry asked, placing one hand on the bench, the other on the back of Severus's chair and leaning down slightly to examine the text book.

"Mmmm," Severus hummed, barely paying attention to the other as he jotted down a note in his ever growing list.

"Have you had any luck with these newer books?" Harry asked, gliding over the page, catchy words here and there.

"No," Severus sighed as he placed down his quill and turned to look at the younger.

Severus froze in his place when he realised how close Harry actually was to him. Harry's neck was mere inches from his own face and Harry's chest was almost touching his shoulder. Severus gulped silently as he inhaled the scent of strawberries, honey and oak. Severus shifted slightly in his chair, trying to move away as much as possible, but didn't achieve any more distance from the other.

Harry turned his head to look at the Potions Master to see why he was moving around so much. He too froze as he noticed the close proximity he was in to his old professor. Harry gulped, less discreetly, and couldn't help but stare in to the beautifully dark orbs that were Severus's eyes. He subconsciously flicked his tongue out over his bottom lip, pulling it back in to bite on.

Severus's eyes moved from observing the bright green eyes right in front of him to the small movements of his mouth. He could feel his heart beat a little faster than it usually did at seeing the soft, plump lip being bit. Severus couldn't help the frown on his face as imagines of biting that himself came rushing in to his mind.

"Sorry," Harry whispered after another second, moving away so he wasn't leaning over the other anymore.

Severus turned his head back to his notes, continuing on with his work as if nothing happened. Harry had seen the frown appear on the other's face. With the few days he has spent here, he had noticed Severus only shows a frown when he is deep in thought and let's his passive mask slip. Harry had gotten so lost in his own thoughts, imagining doing things to the man in front of him, that he didn't realise he was totally invading the personal space of Severus Snape; a man who likes his privacy and personal space very much.

"You look tired," Harry said after the silence dragged on.

"I have not slept," Severus said, refusing to look at Harry.

"Why not?" concern laced throughout Harry's voice.

"Research," Severus mumbled, quickly finding where he had last read in the text book.

"Severus," Harry said, without any response. He sighed before conjuring a chair to sit on. "Severus look at me."

Severus paused in his reading, before reluctantly turning his head to look in the direction of the younger, but not directly at him.

"I appreciate your help in this process of trying to find information on this spell," Harry started, staring at the black eyes that refused to make eye contact. "But I do not want you wearing yourself out by skipping meals or missing sleep. It's not worth it. What good are you if you are passed out on the floor from sleep deprivation. I don't want you putting yourself through this just to help me. I've seen enough people deprive themselves, and worse, because of this war. Please go get some rest."

Severus sighed as he brought a hand up to his face. He tiredly ran his hand down his face, feeling the effects of staying awake for too long finally catching up with him. Severus looked up at last in to the green eyes, shinning with concern and respect. He nodded tiredly yet didn't move. Harry chuckled lightly as he stood up and extended a hand.

"Come on," Harry said with a smile on his face. "Let's get you out of this room you dungeon dweller."

The corner of Severus's lip twitched before his passive mask was firm in place. No longer looking tired a part from the bags under his eyes. He tentatively reached his hand up to land in Harry's smaller one. Finding the strength from deep down, he stood up before allowing himself to be lead up one set of stairs and the another. Harry walked to Severus's bedroom door, pausing outside of it and turning around to look the older man.

"Get some good rest," Harry whispered, conscious of keeping his voice down as to not disturb his sleeping Godfather. "I'll see you later."

With that, Harry smiled and walked off further down the hallway to the bedroom he was staying in. He paused at the door, turning to give one last smile at Severus before entering his own bedroom. A second after sitting down on his bed, he heard the soft click from down the hall of Severus's door. Harry couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. His thoughts never straying far from his old professor.

>_< >_< >_<

Harry made his way down stairs two hours later to find Sirius sitting on the kitchen bench, swinging his feet like a child. Sirius looked like he was in his own little world as he didn't even hear Harry come down stairs. The man in question jumped from fright as Harry cleared his throat.

"Shit, you bastard" Sirius yelped as he placed a hand on his heart, before covering his mouth as he realised what he said. "Sorry, I didn't mean to swear."

"I'm almost 18 Siri," Harry chuckled light-heartedly as he walked over to the kitchen table and sat in the chair like a normal person. "Are you even allowed to sit there?"

"No," Sirius sheepishly said with a wide smile. "The bat always yells at me. God damn party pooper he is. Don't tell him I was up here."

Harry shook his head with a smile as he listened to his grown Godfather. He smiled as he thought of Severus yelling at Sirius while the latter sheepishly climbed down from the bench.

"Have you read the paper this morning?" Harry asked after a short silence.

"I haven't been following all the shit they've been posting since the end of the war," Sirius shook his head with a frown. "Why? Is there something I should know about?"

"No, no, no," Harry calmed him down. "It's mainly just been that they've been posting interviews from the survivors of the war. No official record of who lost their life. Just a lot of bollocks reporting and coverage in my opinion. Not worth a read."

"Have they sent a letter to request an interview with you yet?" Sirius asked, noticing the slightly bitter tone.

Harry shook his head, biting his lip. He presumed that he should have been one of the first person's the newspaper outlets would want to get in contact with. Yet he presumed wrong. It felt weird. He was the Saviour of the Wizarding World, sacrificing his life to save people, yet no one cared for him anymore.

"How does that make you feel?" asked Sirius after the silence grew louder.

"It's weird, you know?" Harry murmured as he scrunched up his eyebrows, adjusting in his seat to get comfortable. "For years the Daily Prophet and other news outlets would always try to find out every intimate detail about my life to tell the public what their Golden Boy," he said with sarcasm, "their Saviour of the Wizarding World, was actually like. Everyone wanted to know if I was suitable enough to entrust the lives of their young children in. To see if I was suitable to overcome the Dark Lord."

Sirius frowned as he listened, focusing his eyes on the floor in shame. This was the first time he was hearing about how Harry felt. He had never bothered when he first broke out of Azkaban and was in hiding. He never got the chance to sit down and have a decent conversation with his Godson as he was following the orders of Dumbledore. It didn't help that he was still suffering from the mental affects the Dementors had on him. He had the emotional range of a teaspoon from being around those God awful things for twelve years.

"And now look at them all," Harry continued, feeling genuine tears threaten to spill for the first time in what felt like years. "Now that I've defeated the enemy that no one could, I suddenly am not needed anymore. I am not needed to defend or protect anyone. I am not needed to take care of anyone. I am not needed to fight, to heal, to be a friend, to be there, to be alive."

Sirius looked up from the floor as he heard his Godson choke on his words, tears rolling down his cheeks like a wild rapid river. He quickly jumped down off the kitchen counter top and kneeled down in between Harry's legs. Sirius pulled Harry to him, tucking his head in to his chest as he engulfed him in a soft yet firm hug to let him know he was there. Sirius couldn't help but let a tear or two escape him as well. His heart was broken in pieces after listening to the young one speak.

"Y-You know why they haven't sent me letters?" Harry stuttered as he pulled back slightly to look Sirius in his eyes.

Sirius shook his head in confusion. Who was he talking about? Who wasn't sending letters? Harry lifted his hand before a vial floated in to the room a second later. Sirius let his arms drop to rest on Harry's legs, offering physical support. Harry wiped his tears and held his wand to his head. He quickly pulled one memory from his mind and placed it in the vial. He held it out for Sirius to take, allowing the tears to flow freely again.

"I'll come with you if you want," Harry whispered, placing his hand on top of Sirius's hand that was still on his leg.

Sirius nodded as he stood up and led the way into Severus's office. He quickly pulled out the pensive from its secret spot, pouring in the liquid and preparing himself for what he was about to witness. With a nod, Sirius and Harry entered the memory.

*In The Memories*

Sirius opened his eyes and found himself staring at a group of red heads and a brown bushy haired girl talking in the destroyed Great Hall. He saw the memory Harry hiding as he listened in to their conversation. He looked back at the Harry he brought in with him. He nodded and nudged him to go closer to the conversation. Sirius hesitantly walked towards the Weasley's and Granger, picking up snippets of what was being said.

"I hate him," Ginny sobbed. "It's all his fault."

"If only we hadn't taken those damn payments from the old man," Mrs. Weasley sobbed, shaking her head. "Maybe Fred would still be alive."

Sirius frowned in confusion and looked back at Harry to see tears down his face again. Obviously this conversation right here is important to helping him understand who wasn't sending letters to him. He turned back and continued to listen.

"I wish I could say to his face how much of a fucking wit he is," said Ron Weasley. "All the money in the world can't bring back my brother. He think he is so high and mighty, privileged little brat. He won't understand."

"I want to break off our friendship," Hermione said, her voice wavered a little. "I only stayed his friend because I was being payed. If I had never accepted the deal, I would still have my parents. It's only because I was his associate that put them at risk."

"I bet the lazy shit is still laying on the ground outside," Ron breathed out in anger. "Probably welling in his own self-pity while the rest of us pick up the destruction he helped make. I just want to smack some sense in to him."

"Ron, as much as I would appreciate you smacking some sense in to Harry, I don't think the rest of the Wizarding World would. I think they would hate you for damaging their precious little hero," Ginny hissed with disgust in her voice.

Sirius gasped at the same time the memory Harry did. Sirius looked over to the memory Harry, seeing a tear run down his face before more followed shortly. Sirius observed how small Harry looked, how sickly white he was, how broken hearted he was as he listened. Sirius felt a tear fall as his heart clenched looking at his Godson.

"Do you think now that the war has stopped, so will the payments?" Hermione asked, a quiver in her voice.

"That's what Dumbledore said," Mrs. Weasley said in between sobs.

"At least I have enough money to comfortably live on my own for a year or two," Hermione continued. "I can't believe how well it worked out. We've been getting his money without him knowing."

"Wait, what?" Sirius yelled, the statement registering in his mind suddenly. His face grew hot and no doubt it was going red. He turned to the real Harry, looking at the shame on his face that wasn't looking at him.

The memory ejected the two of them harshly. The raw emotion seeping from the two wizards probably made it a rough ejection instead of the usual easy one. Sirius stood still staring at Harry, letting everything he had just heard sink in. He felt his own tears flowing out as he stepped closer to Harry and consumed him in a massive hug.

He felt, more than heard, Harry break down crying. His sobs coming from the bottom of his gut. Sirius tuned out the sound, his heart already broken enough, as he got lost in the memory and the words. His sorrow and sympathy for his Godson quickly turning to anger and rage. He felt an overwhelming urge to hunt down those responsible for the hurt Harry was feeling.

"My alarm is going off, why are you in-" Severus stopped as he saw Harry crying in Sirius's arms, the pensive sitting on the table, a memory swirling around. "Is he okay?"

"Clearly not," Sirius snapped, lashing out at anyone right now without thinking clearly. "Harry. Harry?"

Sirius tried to call out to the teen, trying to rouse him from the state he was in. He was afraid that if he couldn't get Harry to calm down and breathe normally then he would hyperventilate. Sirius looked up at Severus with panic in his eyes. He held on to the teen tightly as he swept his concerningly light body in to his arms. Sirius carried Harry out to the living room and sat on the couch with Harry curled up on his lap, his head buried in Sirius's chest.

Severus followed the two out of his office, summoning a Calming Draught from his potions lab without a second thought. Severus leant down, his head inches from Harry's. He ran his fingers through the soft hair and out of the younger's face before he softly turned the head towards him. Severus held the potion to the distraught male's lips. He coaxed him to drink it all before softly running his hands repetitively through the hair as the potion worked it's magic. Harry was soon soundly asleep in Sirius's arms. Severus soaked up the soft and carefree look on the face of Harry Potter, feeling his heart clench.

"What the bloody hell happened to cause that panic attack?" Severus whispered as he moved to sit in his usual arm chair.

"Go have a look for yourself," Sirius whispered as anger overtook him again now that Harry was under control. "But do not go on a killing spree without me."

Severus couldn't help the surprise that came across his face for a few seconds. Luckily Sirius was too deep in thought to pay any attention to him. So Severus did as Sirius suggested. He left the room to go and view the memory. When he landed back in reality, he understood it all now. He wish he hadn't witnessed that conversation as it gave him even more reason to detest the Weasley family as well as the know-it-all Granger. He stormed back out in to the living room, quietly, and started to pace.

"That old git," Severus growled in a whisper, conscious to not wake Harry. "I never trusted him. That is even worse than what I could have imagined him capable of doing. Disgusting. And don't you ever let me see those red-headed morons and that stupid little girl."

"I think we all need a Calming Draught after that," Sirius sighed, letting the anger subside for now as he felt Harry squirm a little.

Severus sighed as he collapsed in to his chair. He stared at Harry who was thankfully still sleeping after his small outburst. He ran a hand down his tired face. Not having much sleep probably didn't help the situation.

"Let's focus on dealing with Harry and his emotions first. Than we can deal with Gringotts. Lastly we'll get some good old fashioned revenge on those bastards," Sirius whispered, his eyes gleaming as he started to plot his revenge.

"Gryffindors," Severus scoffed, no malice behind the words. In fact his eyes too had a shine to them, liking the idea of getting revenge on the ones who broke Harry after all he has been through. "Revenge is best served like a Slytherin. Think more career damaging and emotional blackmail rather than physical harm."

"That is one thing I do admire about Slytherin's," Sirius whispered with a mad smile on his face. "They know how to ruin the rest of your life."

Severus nodded back, a dark smirk settling on his face for a few minutes. The two men both lost in their on thoughts of taking revenge on the Weasleys and Granger. Severus finally came out of his thoughts and settled on watching the peacefully restful face of the sleeping Harry Potter. His heart clenched as he thought about how he desperately wanted to protect the young man from anymore harm and pain. Whether that be physical, mental or emotional, Severus didn't want Harry to experience anymore pain.